How to Make Good Quality Solar Panels
A lot of people these days would like to switch to solar energy, but ready-to-install solar kits can be awfully expensive. As an alternative, you can just purchase the solar cells and build your own solar panels to cut down on the electricity expenditure. Solar panels are not very difficult to make even for an average handyman. What's more, you do not need special tools or materials for construction. The basic items required can easily be purchased from a local hardware shop. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 36 solar cells
- Plywood (45 by 22 inches)
- Plexiglas (45 by 22 inches)
- Masonite pegboard (45 by 22 inches)
- Wood molding (135 inches length)
- Solder
- Blocking diode
- Copper wire
- Electrical jack
- Adhesive (heat resistant)
- Silicone caulk
- Voltmeter
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
Instructions
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1
Arrange 36 solar cells in six rows on the plywood sheet. The cells must be facing down.
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2
Solder the arranged cells together and connect them using copper wires. Start soldering from the top left solar cell to the bottom left one. The cells are quite delicate so make sure you do not damage any. Also, leave some excess wire for attaching the electrical jack and the blocking diode.
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3
Check the arranged cells using a voltmeter to ensure the panel is properly functioning. Now put a dab of adhesive on the back of every cell. Place the Masonite pegboard right onto the cells to cover all of them. Now simply flip the array over and you will see that the cells are stuck on the pegboard and you are free to start working on the plywood. If there is any excess pegboard after sticking the cells, cut it off.
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4
Cut the wood molding so it is ¾ inches deep by ¾ inches wide. Make a frame with this wood molding around the plywood sheet. Now lift up the pegboard and place it inside this frame. Secure it using the heat-resistant adhesive.
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5
Make a small cut in the wooden frame to allow the extra wire from the solar cell arrangement to pass through. Solder the electrical jack and the blocking diode to the wire that is coming out of the wooden frame. Be very careful while soldering the positive wire to the positive connection and negative wire to the negative connection.
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6
Use Plexiglas for covering the entire solar panel. Secure it to the panel frame and use silicone caulk for sealing the edges.
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7
Repeat the steps above for making as many solar panels as you need.
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Tips & Warnings
When wiring the cells and panels, make sure you wear the safety goggles and gloves.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit solar battery image by Tomasz Plawski from Fotolia.com
